AN ADDRESS BY HON. ALFRED CHARLES, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, NSIT UBIUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AT THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONING OF THE URUA NTAKROK AND ₦100 MILLION EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

AN ADDRESS BY HON. ALFRED CHARLES, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, NSIT UBIUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AT THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONING OF THE URUA NTAKROK AND ₦100 MILLION EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD; Your Excellency, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Noble Lady Helen Obareki; distinguished members of the State Executive Council; Honourable Members of the National and State Assemblies; Fellow Chairmen and members of ALGON; our revered traditional rulers; political leaders; members of the clergy; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen, I warmly welcome you all to Nsit Ubium.

Today is a day of joy, gratitude and fulfilment. We thank Almighty God for making this day possible and for granting us the opportunity to serve our people.

Your Excellency, we are honoured by your presence. Your visit is another demonstration of your love for Nsit Ubium and your commitment to grassroots development. On behalf of our people, I sincerely say thank you.

Today, we are commissioning three major projects that will directly improve the lives of our people: the Urua Ntakrok Modern Market, jointly owned by the four villages of Ikot Ubo, Mbak Uno, Ikot Udo Iton and Ekpene Ukim; the ₦100 Million Nsit Ubium Empowerment Programme; and the solar-powered rural water projects at Ikot Uso, Ndukpoise and Ndiya Ikot Ukap.

These are not just projects. They are investments in people.
The Urua Ntakrok Modern Market provides a modern and conducive environment for business. It consists of three blocks of lock-up shops with thirty-six stores, three hundred and seventy-eight open market shades, six multipurpose sheds, modern toilet facilities, a generator house, a water tank and administrative offices. We believe that when traders succeed, families prosper, and when families prosper, the economy grows.

Today, hundreds of our people will also benefit from the ₦100 Million Empowerment Programme. Market women, youths, artisans, farmers and small business owners will receive support to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods. Our goal is simple—to create opportunities, encourage enterprise and reduce poverty.
We are equally providing clean and safe water to our people through the commissioning of solar-powered water schemes in Ikot Uso, Ndukpoise and Ndiya Ikot Ukap. Clean water is not a luxury; it is a basic necessity.

Your Excellency, these projects are part of the transformation that has taken place in Nsit Ubium over the last twenty months.
With your support and the cooperation of our people, we have graded over thirty rural roads, improved security, installed solar-powered street lights, renovated and furnished key offices within the Council Secretariat and promoted our rich cultural heritage.

Education has remained one of our highest priorities. We purchased JAMB forms for over five hundred candidates, distributed twenty thousand educational materials to thirty-eight primary schools, established the ₦100 Million Nsit Ubium Education Trust Fund and awarded educational grants to deserving students. We have also commenced the process for bursary payments to students in tertiary institutions, while preparations are ongoing for the second batch of scholarships in September.

To prepare our youths for the future, we upgraded the Patience Umo Eno ICT Centre into a modern CBT Centre with over two hundred and twenty-five computers, solar power and uninterrupted internet connectivity.

We have also created employment by engaging personnel for sanitation and security services, trained twenty-two indigenes in vocational skills, supported agriculture, organised free medical outreaches, paid hospital bills for hundreds of youths, assisted families with school fees and strengthened environmental sanitation through our “Keep Nsit Ubium Clean” initiative.
These achievements are not mine alone. They belong to every son and daughter of Nsit Ubium. They have been made possible through the support of our Governor, the dedication of my team and the cooperation of our peace-loving people.

I thank our traditional rulers, political leaders, stakeholders, community leaders, women, youths and every resident of Nsit Ubium for believing in this administration. Your support inspires us to do more.

As we celebrate today, I assure you that we will not slow down. We will continue to pursue projects and programmes that improve lives, create opportunities and bring government closer to the people.
I also urge our people to protect these facilities. They belong to all of us. Let us maintain them and ensure they continue to serve generations to come.

Your Excellency, thank you once again for your unwavering support for Nsit Ubium and for the people-oriented leadership you continue to provide through the ARISE Agenda. We remain committed to complementing your vision for a greater Akwa Ibom State.

Together, we are building a stronger economy, creating more opportunities and leaving behind a legacy that our children will be proud of.
May God continue to bless Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, bless Akwa Ibom State, bless His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless Nsit Ubium.